Disclaimer: I do not own Dominion, its locations, characters, plot, etc. I do own this crazy idea and a love for angels, and a few characters thrown in...
Summary: Six weeks post 1x04 The Flood, AU. Ever since Michal returned to Vega after being stabbed, some of the Corps soldiers noticed he wasn't always the stoic, aloof archangel Vega's known for years. And Alex is about to find out why. Also...William Whele has a secret to tell about a night that went normally to everyone else but was actually something much bigger.
To cimi1, Age0102, cdewinter78, Luna082881gmailcom: Thank you for the faves and follows!
To Mina: If I can find someone to do pictures for this I would be ecstatic lol. Thank you! Yes Carla would get it easier, just because Alex gets overconfident.
To wiccawoman: I so love your reviews! Thank you! Review #2: I will finish I promise! I am saddened by the news but it will not deter me from writing. It passions me to go on! So I can write more Dominion awesomeness! Thank you!
To broccoli: Here it is! Thank you!
To Yoda: Thank you! Here's your update! Chapter One review: Ok ok! lol here it is!
To Guest #1: Two days ago? Well...now four...lol You breezed through this! Thank you! You watch SUPERNATURAL?! EEP! I do too! anywho, Gabriel does return very soon, and spoiler: He hangs around a bit. Don't like Alex? Really? huh...and yes, I've had the gender and name picked out since almost the very beginning. That isn't going to be revealed for a long time. Here's the next one, thank you so much! Hey, will you please pick an anonymous name? otherwise I won't know if I'm continuing our lovely conversations with the right person? please?
To Guest #2: Wickedness? Why thank you! Carla is so much fun to write, I love her so! Kind of an accident how she came about...awww that is a cute book cover! Yes, I think of that too...cute girl as well. The site bleeped out your word...idk what you meant with "shouldn't have o-" kind of sad about that. And yes, Michael could have kept it in his pants and handled things better...then again...in this fic, it was Becca's idea for multiple lovers. Oh so you vote girl then? Not telling, I will say that those boy names are lovely! I mean handsome, I didn't think of Daniel or Matthew...Alexander...I can't quite use that one since it's Alex's full name. Hey, will you please pick an anonymous name? otherwise I won't know if I'm continuing our lovely conversations with the right person! please? Thank you so much lovely reader and reviewer!
To Guest #3: I will sign a petition gladly! And fill Twitter with my displeasure! Go Dominion! Hey, will you please pick an anonymous name? otherwise I won't know if I'm continuing our lovely conversations with the right person! please? Thank you so much lovely reader and reviewer!
To Guest #4: "Please finish this" Yes! I will I promise! Stupid job and school...
To DominionFan2778: Ehh...I flesh out my OC's as I see fit, and I feel Unit Six is just fine. This is an AU story, as it says as the seventh word in the summary above. The characters are as I write them, and this is how they come across and flow to me. Especially since this is an mpreg the characters are going to come across rather different. And yes, I agree, train wreck is extreme. I find it interesting that you read the reviews. Mind if I ask why? You are one of the first...
Thank you so much! It is so much fun to write and watch everyone liking it as much as I do. I hope you continue reading and love how the baby finally gets here, not going to lie it's not going to be easy...Wow, I love how you keep saying it's a good mpreg, I've found a few but to hear mine is among them thank you so much! I hope you keep reading and enjoying.
Last but not least:
To RoyalArty: I have one thing to say first, and it's author rage driven and then I will address your review. If you DON'T LIKE my story, DON'T READ it. And if you insist on doing so and insist on tearing my story apart, I would prefer to respond to you and discuss this at length as you seem to wish to do so. So...SIGN UP or SHUT UP.
All that being said, I will not throw you under the bus, I will not delete your review, and I most certainly not report it. In publishing my work on this site I open myself up for readers to critique as they see fit, both positive and negative remarks. Please, speak your mind, but if you ask for hell I will give it to you.
Yes, I do understand reading a horrible piece of work, but I have the intelligence to STOP reading it and let bygones be bygones, my life and time is too valuable to "come back to laugh at the insanity." Thank you for saying grammar and spelling is well done, I struggle with that. As for plot, characters (canon and OC) I see them and write them as I see fit. They are developed as I choose and they are progressing just as I want them too. As for you saying Mary Sue, name her, I dare you.
You say the canon characters are OOC...please reread the summary above, the seventh word. AU? It means alternate universe, characters are not meant to flow perfectly canon and can be written as the author sees fit. This fic is not meant to be on crack, I find that highly insulting. I respond to all reviews so if you wish to continue this, be prepared. It takes a lot to anger me when it comes to my stories, but blatant stupidity at choosing to continue to read a story that apparently is not for you is extremely irritating. I thank you for your points, and accept them readily, I can see your validation in the OC's needing work...I have neglected a few of them more than I like. I will agree with you about Twilight.
Thank you for your review, I appreciate the criticism. If you continue to read, thank you for your time. If you review again, expect a response but if you insist on continuing your methods as you have done, I would prefer to discuss this at length with you. Good Day.
To all my readers, here's a note for you, DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ. And if you insist on reading and decide this fic isn't for you and decide to tell me, SIGN UP OR SHUT UP. I am done...thank you for your time.
Chapter Thirty Seven
Xxx
A week after the "spider fiasco" (Carla named it) Alex woke up to soaring classical music echoing throughout the pent house level of the Stratosphere. He knew without a doubt it could only be Michael blasting the orchestra music this early in the day. As much as Ethan was a sneak, he didn't like classical music and no one had a stereo besides the archangel. He needed to go back to sleep...Alex really needed to go back to sleep. But there was no way he would actually get any rest with the loud music, and the longer he tried to mull over why it was so loud the more awake he was.
When he finally stumbled out to the living room, Caroline was buried under a thick blanket on the couch, likely further deafened by ear plugs, trying to block out the noise to sleep. Blake waved to Alex from the kitchen, finishing a mug of coffee before he and Mitch had to escort Michael to a senate meeting. The chosen one pointed vaguely in the direction of the archangel's suite, brow furrowing in confusion. Mitch popped a few aspirin back without water, only able to shrug with Blake. No one had any idea why the music was so loud.
Alex sighed, heading to Michael's suite and grimacing as the volume only got louder with fewer walls between him and the source. Carla and Noma were with Ethan and Eric at weapons check, and Connors was out in the market, trying to find...actually Alex had no idea what he was sent for, most likely Michael's most recent craving...always cheese…
Max grimaced in sympathy as the blonde braced himself before entering the suite. None of them had seen Michael since Caroline had fixed breakfast for her, Eric, and the archangel at four-thirty am. Alex was going in blind as to Michael's mood.
The chosen one still cringed as he entered the suite, trying to think straight over the music was proving difficult.
Michael didn't look up from where he was laying on his bed, fully dressed for the meeting but showing no inclination to move anytime soon. Alex bit back a smirk as he watched the archangel's fingers tap in sync with the music, one hand on his thigh, the other dancing across the side of his growing stomach. It took the soldier a minute to really think over what he was doing. It wasn't until the song playing in the room changed and so did Michael's fingers did Alex figure it out.
Huh...apparently Michael knew how to play the piano…
The archangel's fingers moved in time with the recording's notes, perfectly on point with the pauses and key changes as his hands moved as if on an actual piano, tapping open air off to either side of him before returning back to his thigh and stomach as needed.
Alex waited until the song was obviously finished to lean over the head board and grab the stereo remote, turning down the volume so the noise would stop shaking the windows and his brain. Michael simply smirked, not even opening his eyes as the soldier sighed in relief as the next song played much quieter.
"Ow…"
Michael chuckled, "Good morning."
"Michael…it was morning for me six hours ago when my shift ended, right now it's supposed to my bed time...but instead I've been listening to opera music and not sleeping."
"Shostakovich."
"Gesundheit."
That earned an outright laugh from the archangel, and Michael shook his head as he reached back for the remote. Alex only handed it over because he could only turn the volume down, none of the other buttons had labels anymore. Michael outright turned the music off, setting the remote down with a soft sigh as he rubbed at his side.
"Shostakovich was a Russian composer, and that wasn't opera, that involves more singing."
"That explains why Caroline found earplugs."
Michael cringed, "I will have to apologize to her about that...I didn't think I had it that loud…"
"Michael your hearing is shot...everyone has been listening to the music."
"Whoops."
If it weren't for the fact the archangel had used such a blatant human phrase, Alex might have been able to keep his composure, that and he was too tired to really care. At least Michael had the courtesy to ask if he was alright when the soldier slid to the floor in silent hysterics, only earning a choked 'yes' after Alex banged his head on the back of Michael's bed and had to lie on the floor in pain.
Michael had moved to sit on the edge of the bed by the time Alex stood up and brushed himself down, the archangel grimacing a little at the thought of standing.
"Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you happen to remember what time I set to meet with Dr. Rogers this afternoon?"
Alex winced, stepping over to help Michael to his feet when his mentor failed to do so on his own, "Umm...that one I didn't pay attention to since I'm supposed to be off duty, Carla knows, she's going with you to the senate meeting and then to the appointment afterwards."
Michael nodded, rubbing at his eyes as he sighed softly, "Would you mind switching with Sgt. Dimaro for at least this afternoon?"
"Mitch been bothering you lately?"
"No...I just know you handle the hospital better than he does, and this appointment is supposed to take longer."
Nodding slowly, Alex smirked, locking his stance as Michael gripped his arm to pull himself upright, "Yeah no problem, let me get some coffee before you leave and I'll just replace him for the day entirely, easier than switching after the meeting."
"Wouldn't you rather sleep?" Michael asked gently once he was standing entirely, resting a hand on his stomach idly.
The soldier shrugged, "Yeah but if I had a choice, I'd rather sleep than go on duty anytime."
That earned a smirk, Michael chuckling as he moved to gather up his paperwork, "Now that I can believe."
Xxx
The first half of the senate meeting was a cross between dull and productive, Michael ignored most of it like he usually did, only truly getting involved when the discussion needed his attention. Today was just going to be a long day for the archangel, he hadn't slept much after eating at almost five in the morning, and besides an extra long appointment later in the day, the senate session was turning into a rather drawn out meeting.
At least Captain Finch called a recess after about an hour and a half, needing to switch out with Captain Mason so he could go on duty. Riesen extended the recess to allow Senator Blake to go back to his House when he was called, Michael didn't pay attention as to why, he was more focused on the report in front of him and avoiding Becca.
It had been just under two months since Consul Rebecca Thorn had been in session, and Michael was honestly impressed the woman was actually in attendance considering she'd only been released from the hospital four days ago.
She looked awful. One arm still wrapped in white bandages-all the way down to her red fingertips, limping off her left leg, and holding herself stiffly in her chair beside Riesen. Even with the heavy makeup covering her face and neck, Michael could see the discoloration on her skin. The fire had left its mark…
Yet so had the Consul, Michael had tucked the glass plated feather in a memory box that he kept behind a wall panel none of his soldiers knew existed, heck he'd even forgotten it a few times. But even knowing nothing was left and that Riesen had additionally handled the situation, the ache was still there. Even if the angels had been trying to kill Michael and his soldiers, the archangel had still known each one personally, and mourned their deaths like all the others in this war and over the course of his life. It still hurt to watch his family die.
As cruel as it was, Michael was glad Fate had taken this matter into her own hands and dealt the consul the cards.
AKA Max and Eric working in Fate's stead since Michael was pretty sure Fate had stopped caring about humanity about the time God did…
Fickle Bitch…
He didn't have too long to dwell on that, nor on trying to avoid Becca's sharp stare. Senator Romero left her conversation with Graywell and approached the archangel just as Becca tried to stand up.
"Senator."
"Good morning Archangel." The biologist perched herself on the table in front of Michael, passing him a proposal packet from her and Senator Graywell, "A peace offering, considering the majority of us within this chamber have not exactly been very supportive the last few months."
Michael's brow furrowed as he skimmed over the proposal summary, realization hitting him like a ton of bricks.
Maternity Leave
"I figured we should probably have something in place well before your actual due date, in the hopefully unlikely event if anything were to happen early we would all be prepared. From my own experience, you won't be wanting to do much of anything for quite some time afterwards, and even getting back into anything other than childcare takes a while to get used to again." Romero's tone was vaguely wistful, eyes lost a little in time and past memories.
Michael welcomed it though, between the biologist and Senator Graywell, a full year's plan had been written out with sections pending Captain Carter's and Finch's thoughts as well. Basically Michael would be wholly exempt from everything for sixteen weeks at the least, it would be pending Dr. Rogers' approval if Michael was alright health wise to then start returning to work. Even then it would only be for partial days with the senate and Archangel Corps alternating days, none of the captains were going to force Michael to throw himself back into full active duty, nor were Senator Graywell and Romero going to make Michael stay away from his child all day like that. It would be over six months, according to this proposal, before Michael would be doing even a basic work day again, reading further, Michael found the proposal outlined that his full return to his formerly "normal" schedule wouldn't start again until just about a year after he delivered. Meaning his child would be a year old and much less dependent on him and would be able to be watched by chosen guardians a lot easier.
His child….it was kinda starting to really sink in to the archangel just what the heck he'd gotten himself into. Mid April now, come mid July things were going to be very different.
"Thank you Senator...truly." It took a lot to find his voice after having read through pieces of the proposal while the biologist was sitting in front of him, Romero didn't seem to mind, smiling as he went on, "I will speak with the captains myself, and will work with them to complete this."
She shrugged casually, "Complete it, consider it, destroy it...entirely up to you. Honestly we came up with the whole thing late last night with a bottle of wine and too much chocolate. Figured we'd at least ensure you knew you had options other than what the by-laws for the senate say, we really should amend those so maternity leave isn't just three months."
The archangel nodded, "I can say now I agree with you and understand why…"
Romero laughed at his light tone.
Michael went on with a gentle grin on his face, "Again, I truly thank you senator, both you and Graywell, I will look this over and get back to you soon. I agree with you though, this needs to be in place soon."
Her brow furrowed briefly, unable to smooth out even though she obviously tried to remain impassive, "May I inquire as to why?"
He shrugged a little, "I have not and likely will not ever come to a point in this pregnancy where I will truly relax, there are still too many unknowns and risks and I dread that one wrong move will force premature labor. I doubt that will get any easier even as the weeks continue to go on without incident."
Romero's eyes softened, "That I can understand, it was nerve wracking my first time as well, and all things considered I wouldn't likely let my guard down either. All I can say is take it easy, and enjoy sleep while you can, there will be less and less of it for quite some time very soon."
Michael actually rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Senator I am well aware of that fact already and do not need reminding."
She snorted, returning to her seat with a grin as Riesen climbed back to his seat at the head of the chamber to call the meeting back to order.
The second half of the session was much like the first, only this time none of the remaining items of business required any of Michael's focus so he honestly zoned out most of it, just barely aware of when he had to vote on anything, even then he responded on auto-pilot.
Xxx
2023
Xxx
Seven years…
Charlie Lannon had been dead seven years...her son, the Chosen One, humanity's Savior...was now eight and a half years old.
Michael hadn't seen him since that night a few days after his mother died. Nor did he want to, one for his safety. Alex was too valuable to risk any chance of Gabriel or his army or even now apparently his human followers ever finding the child. And two...Michael feared he wouldn't be able to walk away yet again.
Those thoughts and thousands of others drifted through his mind as he stood staring out from his open window in the Stratosphere, letting the cool breeze brush over his exposed arms as his hands remained clasped casually behind his back. Vega was slowly gaining strength and prosperity, and the men and women making up the army were beginning to be rather formidable in defending the city from the angels. Michael prayed it would be enough…enough to hold out until Alex could come into his birthright, his destiny, and become humanity's redemption...and Michael's.
Six months, six months from now, the bomb that was currently still in the bare construction phases, would be done and the weapon would be used to stop Gabriel.
There were inklings of a rumor that Gabriel was massing his forces at Hoover Dam, Michael had yet to risk the flight to check it out. Vega was slowly accepting his aid and learning to trust his protection and presence, nothing he did was done without express approval of the senate so to not alarm anyone that there was an actual angel in their midst, especially one just as powerful as their enemy.
Yet while Vega was getting better at being around him, the representatives from Helena on the other hand…
The women were extremely uneasy, while shrouded in their veils and robes to conceal themselves behind modesty, their strength was not just in their looks, Michael had first suspected they were more than mortal women with how their cunning and with kept them at the top of their game, while still on edge whenever the archangel was present, to the point Michael had heard actual stutters.
The plan was for Helena's air support to drop a bomb on Gabriel's army, neutralizing the enemy in one fell swoop.
Michael wasn't sure what to feel about that…
He also was greatly concerned about what it meant in the long run...December 24th, 2014, a third of the world's population was taken out in one fell swoop, whether via angelic possession or killed by one. Since then, over half of the remaining humans were gone, and with the deaths of some...communications were lost with Europe and Russia, judging by the fewer and fewer hails it was likely Asia would be following them into pure silence, and not because of loss of radios, but of lives.
Michael didn't let himself dwell on this long, he had a senate session to get to-
"Michael!"
If General Riesen's sudden arrival startled the archangel, Edward never saw it, instead Michael turned just enough to glance over his shoulder, eyebrow raising in expectation.
Riesen was out of breath and looking absolutely pissed, Michael waited patiently for him to speak.
"It's Jeep...there's been an accident."
Xxx
"There's been an accident."
Try an attack, and a vicious one at that considering the severity of the injuries Jeep Hanson sustained had led him to come to Vega for help and safety.
Correction...Jeep got overconfident during a simple brawl with an eight ball and let his guard down, resulting in an all out ambush that nearly killed him. Another man who had also lived just outside Vega's outposts had found Alex desperately trying to keep his father from bleeding to death, and had rushed the pair to the safety of the wall.
Riesen had been informed two days after their arrival, and only because he was the emergency contact on Jeep's limited citizen file. The general was only called because Alex refused to leave his father's side and was becoming a nuisance since Jeep had yet to wake up after surgery.
The general had checked in long enough to confirm it was Jeep before rushing to get Michael.
To put it simply...the archangel was not happy.
Luckily, Alex was sound asleep when Michael finally arrived to the hospital, careful to slip in when few were even on that section of the ICU hallway, let alone watching Jeep's room. The archangel didn't dare risk Alex meeting him just yet, not when his father was so unwell and Gabriel was still so close. According to Riesen, one of the nurses had taken pity on the boy and let him sleep in his father's room, Alex had apparently refused to even leave the chair and had to be drugged to sleep so he could be laid down on the next bed.
Michael didn't let that concern him right now, instead he focused on the man lying on the hospital bed before him.
Jeep was a mess, bandages covering most of his arms and one side of his head, leg wrapped in a thick cast that had obvious metal pins through it to hold the fragile bones in place. Bruising covered much of his exposed skin, and judging by the variety of monitors attached to his body, there was likely either broken ribs or internal damage as well.
Another correction, Michael was pissed.
Riesen had explained that Jeep hadn't woken up yet from blood loss and the high levels of painkillers he was on, he'd been trucked into OR screaming in pain and delirium, howling to Alex to get away from the eight balls attacking. To the archangel it sounded like this ambush had been more of Jeep being too drunk to defend himself properly, let alone an eight year old boy.
He wasn't going to allow this to slide, nor was he going to wait for the man to wake up one his own…
Xxx
Jeep grunted back to consciousness in obvious pain, eyes flashing open in a startled panic as his entire body jerked on the bed, earning tight hisses of pain as likely every part of him throbbed in agony. He groaned loudly, trying to find some position that didn't hurt, coughing as his dry throat rasped with his breathing.
He couldn't think...couldn't see...what the hell was going on?
The human did however respond properly when a small cup was touched to his lips, sipping the cool water gratefully before collapsing back against the pillow once the supportive hand had abruptly moved away.
"I do not know why I bother since you are obviously a waste of my time."
That voice...he knew that voice...it wasn't Alex's, it was...well it was pissed off that was for sure.
"Don't feign sleep, I know you are awake."
Oh crap…
"M-Michael…"
The archangel growled softly in response, silencing only when Jeep managed to open his eyes properly and see Michael standing at the end of the hospital bed, leaning on the end like he was meant to be there all along, Jeep knew by the tight hold to his shoulders and hands gripping the footboard so tight it was cracking that Michael was livid.
"Since…" Oh damn speaking hurt, "Since when am I considered a waste of your time?"
"Since you not only risked your life recklessly but put Alexander in unnecessary danger as well, out of sheer stupidity."
Uh oh...he used Alex's full name…
"And how did I do that?"
Michael glared, eyes flashing dangerously, even in the low light of the hospital room they radiated power, and angry power...but still a power Jeep didn't want to mess with.
"You were ambushed by eight balls-"
"Well obviously, I'm busted up and in Vega-"
"You were drunk Jeep...again...only this time you nearly had Alex killed for your insolence." Michael snapped, growling again as he finished speaking.
Jeep flailed uselessly, "What-no!"
"Do not lie to me!"
Shit...Michael really was pissed.
The archangel was seething as he moved closer to Jeep's head, leaning over him slightly as his voice dropped dangerously low, "I can smell the alcohol on you-"
He couldn't keep his mouth shut, stupid pain killers, "The surgeons-"
Michael's fist slammed down onto the table at Jeep's bedside, the abrupt bang jarring the man to his senses even with the drugged fog in his mind and blood, luckily the rattle didn't disturb Alex sleeping nearby.
"The surgeons used peroxide and antiseptic, they did not use whiskey and bourbon. I can smell the drinks on your breath and on your body still, you were drunk and highly so to the point you not only let your guard down to allow such an ambush to occur, but could not defend yourself and in turn put your life and especially Alex's at risk. What were you thinking?! Do you realize you could have lost him?! That Gabriel would have won without even seeing the boy, that humanity would be doomed, that I would have lost-"
Michael cut himself off, jerking away from Jeep with a snarl and stalking to the window, slamming a fist against the metal frame. Jeep flinched, more because of his own actions versus the fact that the glass cracked with the impact.
"I get it, I fucked up, but Alex is alive, I'm alive, and it's not like I'll have the chance to drink for awhile anyway...won't be leaving Vega."
"Until you are healed."
"No."
Michael turned back around at that, faint confusion blending with the still present anger. "Excuse me?"
"You're excused."
The archangel's glare snapped Jeep back out of his slight drugged haze, the man sobering solemnly as the sheer extent of Michael's anger sunk in.
"I'm not leaving Vega, I won't be on my feet again for weeks let alone in any form of fighting shape for months. Michael, I can't leave Vega, and neither can Alex, he won't be safe out there...we have to stay within the walls.
A low sigh, almost growling noise slid from the archangel's throat, but Michael nodded in agreement. "I will speak with General Riesen, and ensure living quarters are established before you are discharged."
Jeep nodded gratefully, shifting a little on the bed to finally turn and watch Alex sleep soundly beside him.
"They had to drug him didn't they?"
"Yes."
He sighed heavily, "I must have scared the daylights out of him...no wonder he won't leave."
"I will ensure he is cared for while you remain here, a hospital is not suitable for long term."
"Don't I know it," Jeep muttered, "…'cared for'...meaning you'll watch him?"
Michael's eyebrow rose slightly when he turned around and moved back to stand near the man once more, "Me?"
"Yes you, you idiot." Ok...maybe the drugs were still affecting his thinking… "You...will watch him?"
"Jeep...I am not-"
"Shut it Michael."
The archangel's jaw clicked as he snapped his mouth closed, crossing his arms over his chest as he let Jeep go on.
"The only thing you're not...is familiar with Alex, not anymore at least. I know he'll be safe with you and it's not like there's a whole lot of options for him here…"
Michael sighed, but he wasn't arguing right away. Instead he remained silent, leaning on the end of the bed again, this time casually so to not appear mad any longer. Jeep knew he was still pretty ticked off, but at least was slowly calming down. Hopefully, he'd agree to watching Alex for now while Jeep recovered, maybe even teach the hot headed boy a few things...like self-control...
"You are aware of the status of the war?" That startled the man from his thoughts, Michael had turned serious again.
"If you mean Gabriel's latest hideout? Sort of, rumors filtering through the supply trucks is he's at Hoover dam."
A short nod was all Michael gave him before continuing, "There are plans to try to mass his numbers there, and bomb the area."
"Really?"
Another nod, this one a little more forced, accompanied by the archangel's shoulders stiffening marginally.
"Jeep."
"Yeah?"
Michael let out a breath Jeep hadn't realized he'd been holding, eyes looking up to him, weary and strained, he was legitimately worried…
"It...it may not be safe for you in Vega-"
"It sure as hell won't be safe for us outside the walls-"
"No, Jeep." Michael's voice lowered, not angry this time, concerned. "It may not be safe for you. And only you...Alex can blend in, but with the tattoos, you are a high target and not just for Gabriel, there are those among the people here who feel the Chosen One is a lie, and that the child should be destroyed."
"What? No turning him over to Gabriel?" Jeep snarked, glaring angrily at the archangel who met his gaze evenly.
"Some say that will be enough, others would rather the child be dead entirely so neither side can use him."
"They don't know it's Alex though-"
"Of course not, other than the initial rumors of a Savior, there has been nothing said to anyone." Michael replied firmly, easing at least that fear.
Jeep sighed softly, wincing as the pain started to come back stronger now, the meds must be wearing off.
"Any shown openly supporting the idea have been ridiculed, the tattoos are too obvious Jeep, you are more a risk to Alex here than I am, Gabriel has no idea what he looks like and there are enough children within Vega the right age to keep him hidden for some time."
"What are you saying?"
Michael growled softly, obviously aggravated again, "I am saying it may not be wise for you to remain in Vega-"
"And Alex isn't safe outside these walls!"
"I am not saying take him out-"
"Michael-"
"You have to leave Vega!" Michael snapped, eyes sharp and bright with the higher authority Jeep rarely saw anymore, "And leave Alex here. It is not safe for either one of you to remain close to one another. Not with your ties to the senate as well."
Jeep struggled to form a response, settling for staring at the archangel in pure hate as realization set in.
"I'm not leaving my son-"
"You don't have a choice-"
He didn't let Michael finish, "Don't you dare...I am not leaving my son."
"Jeep-"
"Get out."
Michael actually took a step back, it was one thing for him and Jeep to argue, it was another for the man to be this angry. This was something he wasn't familiar with, at all.
"Jeep-"
"Get. Out. And don't you dare come back."
"Alex-"
"Is my son! And you will never take that away from me. Get out Michael. Get out and stay out!"
No one could figure out how Riesen knew to walk in at that moment, hearing the last bit of Jeep's frantic yelling before Michael spun on a heel and stormed from the hospital room. Jeep was angry as hell and in pain, forcing himself to remain calm as he murmured soothingly to Alex who was trying to wake up from all the shouting. The General stopped Michael from leaving completely, pausing them both at the door as he turned to Jeep.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Jeep didn't listen, growling at the archangel's back, he ignored how Michael's hands had balled into tight fists and his shoulders were shaking as he breathed heavily to remain still. "Stay away from my son archangel, and don't you dare come near him again."
Riesen had seen pain in the Archangel Michael's eyes, like the night he found Michael after Charlie Lannon's death.
This...this pain was one he'd never see fade away into the background, the hurt and betrayal in Michael's eyes would remain in his silver gaze for years to come.
Because for the second time, the last time...Michael had to walk away from Alex Lannon and never look back.
Xxx
2040
Xxx
Alex shifted on his feet outside the exam room, waiting for Rogers to show up for Michael's appointment, Roxi had already checked them in and recorded Michael's vitals, saying the doctor would be with them shortly.
'Shortly' as in fifteen minutes later, and Alex turned from where he was standing against the wall to see Michael leaning on the now open doorway, arms crossed over his chest as he waited a tad impatiently.
"You alright?"
The archangel nodded, giving Carla a small grin when she smirked from the other side of the corridor, "Yes, merely...bored…"
The two soldiers with him chuckled, Carla especially, during appointments now, she or Noma had taken to accompanying Michael giving their training, that and the archangel had started to legitimately forget things. Alex had been the one to throw his boot at Ethan when he'd brought up the possibility of "pregnancy brain", Blake had sent him running long before Michael had any idea what they had been arguing about.
"Baby restless?" Carla asked gently, smiling as Michael shook his head for once.
"No, rolling a little, but not too active, not like there's a lot of room for movement anyway." Michael explained quietly, content to pass the time with them instead of by himself in the silent exam room.
Carla nodded, "That's about right, as long as you're feeling something about every twenty minutes you're doing fine."
Michael snorted, "Try almost constantly."
Alex didn't get the chance to add his two cents in, Dr. Rogers was walking past the entrance to their side hall with another patient of his, a young mother holding a gurgling little boy who kept reaching for the doctor's glasses.
"...We'll go over the inhaler change in three days, but I highly believe this will be the last adjustment. Maverick's asthma shouldn't give you anymore trouble." Rogers finished with a smile, pausing at the hallway intersection, the mother continued to speak with him without looking down the hallway, but her son…
Carla and Alex shared a quick glance, smirking as Michael lost focus on them and instead watched the baby down the hall. The little one waved a tiny hand, little fingers flexing as he gurgled happily, the archangel's eyes softened to the point Alex had to step back a bit, an actual smile stretched across Michael's face as he watched the toddler, entire being softening into something Alex had never seen before…
Yet seemed so familiar at the same time...guess Jeep was right...Alex had always had Michael, even when he couldn't remember it.
Rogers and the mother parted ways, the toddler waving to Michael as he was carried away. The smile didn't leave the archangel's face even as the doctor lead them into the exam room with quick apologies for the delay. It took both Rogers and Alex to get Michael laying back, even with the head of the bed lifted up as he sat down the archangel struggled, grimacing uncomfortably until he was halfway laying down.
A low sigh slid from his lips as Dr. Rogers fired up the ultrasound machine, questioning Carla instead of Michael as the archangel shifted unhappily. Alex dropped onto the other chair, subtly catching Michael's attention once he stopped grimacing.
"What's wrong?"
"Sore...sitting in the senate session wasn't very comfortable, if this keeps up I might ask to be notified ahead of time if I am required to attend."
Alex nodded, "Just don't ask Whele, bet he'd say yes even if it's a lie."
Michael snorted, but nodded in agreement before turning back to Rogers as the doctor held up the wand and gel. This time, the screen wasn't tipped towards Michael right away, and the archangel remained silent as Rogers found what he was looking for, quietly pointing things out to Carla as she asked things over his shoulder.
When Rogers finally turned the machine for Michael to see, Alex stood up to see as well.
"Not the clearest 3D image, I only do this once per pregnancy, the imaging isn't the best." Rogers explained absentmindedly, mostly to Alex though as Carla was all too familiar with procedures.
And Michael…
He wasn't listening at all, staring at the screen intently as one hand rested on his exposed stomach above where the wand was, the other had stretched out unconsciously so his fingertips could brush against the black and white display, as if meaning to touch the face shown. Even now, at twenty-eight weeks, Alex could see what Rogers meant by the fetus sharing physical characteristics with Michael, the tiny cheekbones were angled just like the archangel's, and the pair of closed eyes were identical as well.
Rogers didn't speak, letting Michael take his time, the doctor only moved when the fetus did, shifting the wand to keep the face as centered on the screen as possible, Michael didn't react other than shifting his hand as the baby visibly moved, one punch making Michael jump a little since he was seeing it at the same time as he felt it.
Alex glanced to Carla, brow furrowing a little in concern, she nodded reassuringly, having a clearer view of Michael's face than the chosen one. Michael wasn't upset, just quiet.
Until the fetus yawned on camera, tiny fist curling to its chest before it rolled gently away from the wand, little back facing them now. Michael's breathing noticeably hitched, a borderline gasp as he blinked rapidly.
"Beautiful…"
"Someone's asleep…" Rogers murmured softly, stopping the imaging and clicking back to a still image of the 3D face, leaving the picture up for Michael while the doctor cleaned off the wand and the gel from the archangel's ever expanding stomach.
"Everything is going wonderfully Michael, all within exceptional ranges. Your blood pressure is still a bit high, but no where in concerning levels either. Fetal development is right on track, and that blood type issue has faded entirely, likely from the surgery…"
Michael nodded at the vague allusion to his loss of grace, letting Dr. Rogers go on as he prepped something else. "All in all, you are doing great."
The archangel grinned, still not completely turning away from staring at the screen next to him. But he was at least paying attention as Rogers and Carla unfolded and locked a pair of stirrups into place on either side of the exam bed. Michael sat up enough for the two to be able to swing down the bottom of the bed so the archangel's legs were handing, wincing a little at the strain in laying like that before Rogers tipped the head up further.
"Pants off."
"What?"
Alex was the only one lost now, earning a soft sigh from Rogers as Carla stood in front of the other blonde.
"Turn around Lannon."
"Any why does-"
Michael sighed loudly, leaning back into the pillows heavily as he undid his belt, Mina had added belt loops to his altered pants out of habit, and because for awhile Michael had still carried his swords, "Did you even read the information given to you in school? Last time I checked sex education was mandatory-"
"So not having this conversation with you!"
The archangel bit back a smirk, shifting to stand up fully as Carla dug her nails into Alex's wrists, forcing him to turn and face the wall or suffer the pain from the short woman working the pressure points in his thumbs. Alex sighed as he leaned his head against the wall, hearing the sounds behind him of Dr. Rogers helping Michael lay back again once out of his lower clothes and with a sheet covering from his waist down judging by the snap of fabric.
"Do I want to know?" Alex asked Carla softly, grunting as she banged her forehead on his shoulder blades.
"How do doctors check if a woman in labor is dilating?"
"Carla-"
"How?"
That took a minute to think through, but once he did, Alex shuddered a little, earning a giggle from his unit mate before Rogers called Carla over to help him. Alex only turned back around when Michael grunted in pain, hands snapping to the sides of the bed to hold on to keep still.
He looked really uncomfortable, caught between staring at the ceiling and trying to watch Rogers over his stomach and the sheet.
Carla huffed softly, resting a hand on Michael's knee. She stood on the other side of the exam bed from Alex, catching Michael's hand when it banged against the mattress, "Stop trying to watch, you need to relax."
"...trying…" That was definitely strained, Michael groaning uncomfortably as he stiffened on the bed even further, almost not breathing as he squeezed his eyes shut. Rogers muttered under his breath, free hand gripping Michael's other knee gently.
"Archangel you need to relax, the sooner you do the sooner I will be done."
Michael nodded, but something in Alex told him it was a lie, the archangel was in no way capable of relaxing like he needed to, not on his own.
"...It's been fifteen years...we thought the tattoos were lost to us…"
"...fourteen and a half...but whose counting…"
Alex blinked, trying to clear his head as the familiar and almost dreaded buzzing the tattoos gave off tried to take over, Michael had explained that it was possible for the markings to transmit memories of the bearers to one another. Like Alex seeing Jeep's frantic writings and break downs in his old house, an hour before Furiad stabbed Michael. This time...it was the memory of the reunion between Jeep and Michael, and Alex could feel the desperation in Michael's voice as he told Alex's father his dread at Jeep's long absence.
One look to Carla was all it took really, for Alex to decide to step in, she couldn't stop what she was doing and Rogers wasn't going to either. Michael didn't notice the brief, and silent exchange between the two as Alex pulled off one of his gloves and undid some of the snaps on his uniform sleeve. Carla glared at him in caution, flicking her gaze to Rogers who was just as oblivious. Alex shook his head, he wasn't going to stop.
Once his sleeve was open enough for the tattoos to be partially exposed if he moved right, Alex forced Michael's free hand to let go of the bed. The archangel grunted loudly, either because of the soldier or Rogers, Alex couldn't tell.
"Look at me."
The archangel refused, staring at the ceiling obviously distracted as one of his legs stomped in the stirrups uncomfortably, almost choking on a breath as he tried to breathe like he was being softly directed to by Carla.
Alex snapped the fingers on his other hand right next to Michael's ear to catch him off guard, voice taking on a tone he wasn't aware he had, nor that he could actually manage to say it to the archangel directly.
"Look at me."
Michael groaned miserably, but finally complied, gray eyes locking on Alex before his hand shifted to grab the tattooed forearm instead of the hand offered. The effect was almost instantaneous, tension draining from Michael's body enough for him to breathe and calm down. While he followed Carla's instructions to "breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth", Michael's gaze stayed locked on Alex's, only flinching once and needing a moment to refocus, otherwise the rest of Dr. Rogers' exam was fine.
The doctor stepped back with a soft hum, removing his gloves with a snap and popping the end of the bed back up right away while Carla folded down the stirrups. Rogers dropped onto his stool once more, rolling back so Michael could still see him from where he was laying, and so the doctor gave him needed space.
"Everything completely normal and right on track. Your hips and pelvis though, while shifting to accommodate the growth, are a bit of a concern. As uncomfortable as that was, I may start doing such checks every appointment or so to ensure you are stable enough to make it full term."
Michael had to take a minute to think that through, shifting a little as he laid on the exam bed, "Will there be a risk-"
Rogers didn't let him finish, "The only 'bad' thing about the lack of your joints shifting, is it's possible while you are technically capable of delivering naturally, physically it might not be wise. I told you from the beginning a C-section might be the best route when it comes time for delivery, I'd rather not have to use extreme measures."
"What do you mean doc?" Alex asked, unable to fully turn around considering Michael had yet to let go of his arm.
"In some cases during delivery, in true emergency situations, I have had to either break the infant's shoulder or at the very most dislocate it, in the situation where the fetus was too far engaged and too high a risk for a C-section to take place. In one such event, I ended up breaking the mother's pelvis as well to allow the delivery to finish. There is no way in hell I'm going to let that become a possible option in this case. I don't think I could even break a bone in you period Michael if it came down to it."
The archangel shrugged, but judging by the set of his jaw he agreed, surgery was safer than a forced injury, that and Michael would probably lose it.
"Even lacking some things angelic?" Carla commented.
The doctor nodded, "Lack of quick healing and blood issues is one thing, but bone density hasn't changed one bit, meaning Michael could probably still get hit by a truck and walk away just fine. Not that I'm saying to go do that…"
Michael managed a slight grin, not much but he was relaxing again. Rogers stood back up with a sigh, digging in one of the drawers of the cabinets for a moment.
"I'm going to have you stay here for a bit and just relax, to be on the extra cautious side today. I don't want to find out just how little stress it takes to trigger anything and I have the feeling walking isn't high on your priority list at the moment."
That earned a nod, and the doctor helped Michael get his pants and everything back on, Alex and Carla both turning around again before the archangel stretched out on the exam bed again, grimacing a little in discomfort. Rogers drew a quick blood sample, wanting to check hormone levels while he had the chance and needed to kill time anyway. Carla left with him when the doctor stepped out to run the tests, and Alex moved to sit on the rolling stool in Michael's general line of sight.
Not that he was paying attention, instead he'd gone back to staring at the still image on the ultrasound machine, Rogers having left it on for that exact reason. Alex remained politely silent, only moving when Michael audibly sniffed, the quiet tears making slow streaks across his face. Michael forced a grateful grin when Alex passed him a tissue, sniffing again as his eyes remained locked on the tiny face. One of his hands drifted to his stomach, rubbing gently as the other tucked itself beneath his head.
Alex broke the silence after several minutes, and because Michael was starting to twitch like he was in pain, or just uncomfortable, "Still not going to find out the gender?"
Michael shook his head, "No...I'd rather wait, I'll either actually make it without knowing all the way to delivery or right before. That usually when my patience runs out...manage to hold off until just before the end."
The blonde snorted, fiddling with his uniform sleeve and catching Michael's attention fully at last, his gaze softened further at the sight of the black swirls peeking out of the sleeve. It didn't take the archangel long to figure out what had happened.
"Thank you Alex...I needed that."
"No problem," He smirked, concealing the markings again now that Michael was settling down, "Speaking of need...why do you keep twitching?"
Michael sighed, eyes closing as he froze completely for a second, finally looking back to Alex before gesturing to the table in the corner where a couple pillows were stacked and waiting.
"Could you...hand me one please?"
"Sure."
The archangel nodded gratefully, tucking the padding between his knees a bit awkwardly since his growing abdomen didn't let him maneuver easily, but he managed on his own and laid back with a soft sigh.
"That's better…" He mumbled, letting his eyes close again, this time from fatigue. Only to force them open again a minute later to keep looking at the still image display, trying to take it all in while had the chance.
"Bet Rogers can get you a print out if you want one."
Michael shrugged, "I honestly hadn't thought about that."
Alex smirked, pulling a blanket out of the cabinet, "Well you have now, so if you want to catch some sleep, I'm not stopping you."
For a moment, it looked like he was going to argue, but Michael quickly decided not to, nodding for the blanket when offered and letting the fatigue take over.
As simple as sitting in the senate chamber was, it was still actual work, especially since Michael was no longer very comfortable in the chairs and quickly grew fatigued when in pain or just plain sore. Throw in a slightly busier appointment with a nerve-wracking, yet common exam, and it was no wonder Carla and Rogers walked in to find the archangel sound asleep, the blanket only draped over his torso for whatever reason while Alex sat watching him quietly.
"Hey doc, any chance Michael can get a print of one of these still shots?"
Rogers chuckled softly, glancing over the paperwork in his hand before passing Carla Michael's copies.
"I'll see what I can do, the printer for the ultrasound machines is used frequently by other departments in the hospital as well."
Alex nodded, turning back to watch the archangel, Rogers must have decided to let Carla go over the blood test with Michael later, not that it was a concern, quite the opposite, Michael was doing just fine. No, the doctor had other patients to meet with, and he was going to let the soldiers be the ones to wake Michael up.
Guess the doctor didn't want to test Michael's mood swings...
Review Please!
Thanks for reading! Sorry for the delay...life caught up with me...
Thinking about next story after The End...Dominion of course...but not sure which idea to play with...
1) Jeep lives...like goes into surgery, flat lines so Alex gets passed the tattoos, but is alive for the series...
2) Michael and Gabriel have to team up with Vega's army and eventually Helena...maybe New Delphi (different from the tv show canon) and other human survivors...to deal with the threat of demons and Hell opening (different from the season two finale that I still haven't seen)
3) An old friend of Michael's either a) comes to Vega and demands to talk with him: aka kisses him flat out in front of the senate and leaving him out of breath and out of focus...or b) same friend "fakes their death" and sends a messenger to Vega to get Michael to come to her
or
4) Michael gets captured by humans and experimented on/tortured and ends up broken and beaten before making it back to Vega and struggling to recover...meanwhile Alex F*cks up and reveals the tattoos to Vega while drunk and has to leave for awhile to let things calm down/figure out what he's going to do about being exposed...
To all my readers, here's a note for you, DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ. And if you insist on reading and decide this fic isn't for you and decide to tell me, SIGN UP OR SHUT UP. I am done...thank you for your time.